How to care for children's hair

J. Williams Updated April 17, 2017

Caring for your child's hair is not the same as caring for adult hair. Because children have fine hair, and sensitive skin, the shampoos and conditioners used by adults may irritate the skin, and dry out the scalp. These shampoos also contain chemicals that sting the eyes. Using the right shampoo, and using the proper detangling technique is key in keeping your child's hair and scalp healthy Following the correct steps in combing will also make the experience easier on both you and your child.

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Brush your child's hair before shampooing. This will not only make it easier to brush after the shampoo, but will also help prevent breakage caused by brushing wet hair.

Shampoo with a mild water-based, sulphate-free shampoo that is less likely to sting the eyes. According to parenting.com, toddlers should have their hair washed at least three times a week, and children that are preschool age and up should have their hair washed every other day.

Use a detangling spray. A detangling spray is lighter than conditioner and will allow the hair to be easily combed without being weighed down.

Use a wide-toothed comb to detangle hair once the spray has been applied. A wide-toothed comb will help prevent breakage.

Blow-dry hair on a cool setting. If the heat from the blow dryer is too hot, it can damage the hair and dry out the scalp. Due to the sensitivity of children's skin, it may also burn.

Tip

Shampoo hair right before the child is ready to get out of the bath. This eliminates skin irritation that could be caused by sitting in the sudsy water. Combing from the ends of the hair and working your way to the top is less painful and helps prevent breakage.

Warning

While baby shampoo is less likely to sting the eyes, irritation can still occur. Avoid getting shampoo directly in the child's eyes.

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Things You'll Need

Brush

Mild water-based shampoo

Detangling spray

References

Resources

About the Author

Judy Williams has spent more than six years of her writing career as a video-game reviewer at MMORPG.com and a fiction writer for "Equinox" magazine. She enjoys writing about culture, folklore, mythology and religion. Williams graduated from Lindenwood University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology and sociology. She is currently completing a Master of Arts in history with an emphasis in museum studies at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.